Nonrefillable bottle stopper



April 18, 1939. .JA H. BALDWIN ET AL- 2,155,292

NONREFILL'ABLE BOTTLE STOPPER Filednec. 25, 193e 2 sheets-,sheet 1 ZZ /3 Z5 39 INVENToRs k?? ad 6/ 60 5450 52 J/'wfJ/faow/y W /0 A /f/V /VHJE/v.

59 ffy. L 9- AMM am 5 /f ATT RNEY y April 18, 1939. J. H. BALDWIN Er AL 2,155,292

NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER Filed Deo. 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Shet 2 AT1' RDUEY Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATESA NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER James H. Baldwin,

New Milford, and Knud Knudsen, Danbury, Conn., assgnors to Container Fitments, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,398

5 Claims.

This invention relates to non-rellable stopper construction, particularly the kind applied to bottles.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a compact and strong non-rellable bottle stopper construction and one that will be of dependable and efcient action in use. Another object is to provide a non-refllable bottle stopper construction that is capable of inexpensive manufacture. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character made up of component parts which individually are capable of inexpensive manufacture and which may be readily and inexpensively assembled to constitute the complete stopper construction. Another object is to provide a construction of the abovementioned character that is dependably tamperproof. Another object is to provide a non-rellable bottle stopper construction having an eflicient pour and yet be inexpensive and simple in construction and thoroughly dependable against tampering. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown a preferred form of the various possible embodiments of our invention,

Figure l is a central vertical sectional View showing a bottle neck with the stopper and a preferred form of closure related thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan view, as seen from the top in Figure l with the closure removed, more particularly as seen along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; v Figure 3 is a central transverse sectional view of the construction with the closure removed, showing certain interrelations of certain of the parts where the construction is tilted;

Figure 3a is a fragmentary sectional View showing a screw closure applied to the spout 54;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View, as seen along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View, as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen along the line 6 6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen along the line I-l of Figure l, and

Figure 8 is a development of one of the parts of the stopper construction or may be considered as (Cl. 21S-22) a plan view showing that part in an earlier stage of its manufacture.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring first to Figure 1, we have shown at I the neck portion of a bottle or like container and preferably the neck is provided With an interior annular shoulder II spaced somewhat downwardly from its upper end. The shoulder has an upper substantially horizontal face and a downwardly and outwardly inclined face, and with these parts there is to coact, as later described, certain parts of the stopper construction which comprises a sheet metal casing I2, generally cylindrical in shape and having a bottom I3 apertured centrally as at I4, an annular portion I of the bottom I3 about the opening I4 being downwardly and inwardly inclined or substantially frusto-conical in shape.

As above noted, the casing I2 is generally cylindrical in shape; however, and more specifically, it is preferably, and for purposes later described, made to have differently diametered cross-sections. Thus, for example, there is an upper end section I6 preferably cylindrical and of a diameter slightly less than that of the mouth or orice formed by the shoulder II in the bottle neck IU, the upper end of this section I6 terminating in an outwardly directed peripheral flange I'I shaped to overlie the shoulder II; below the section I6 is a section I8 also cylindrical but of lesser diameter than the section I6, thus forming an internal annular shoulder I9 at the junction of these two sections. Cylindrical section I8 is of relatively small axial length and extending downwardly from it is a section that is tapered downwardly and inwardly or frusto-conical. Below frustoconical section 20 is a cylindrical section 2| of relatively substantial axial length and, being the lowermost section of the casing I2, is also the smallest-diametered section thereof.

The above described illustrative and preferred shape of the casing I2 is, moreover, one which is readily and inexpensively fabricated and the casing I2 may thus be made of a single piece of sheet metal, as by drawing, spinning, or the like.

Into the lowermost section 2| is next inserted a gasket-like washer 22, its outside diameter matching the inside diameter of section 2|, and it has a hole 23 of a diameter commensurate with that of the aperture I4 in the bottom I3. Washer 22 is to coact with a ball member 24, preferably made of sheet metal and hollow so as to have a certain buoyancy, and the washer may be made of any suitable or appropriate material.

Preferably, we employ a material that is per se yieldable and which, also, is flexible or bendable, but preferably resiliently or yieldably so. Thus, it may be made of a suitable rubber, cork composition, cork,y or the like. Illustratively, it is of cork.

When rested upon the bottom I3 an inner annular portion thereof of substantial radial dimension t overhangs the frusto-conical bottom portion I5, with a cantilever-like effect, the remaining or outer annular portion of the washer 22 being held against thebottom I3 by a metal washer 25 which is held in place in a manner later described. With this construction and mounting, the free or overhanging inner portion of the washer 22 may'yieldably ilex downwardly to an extent limited by the frusto-conical bottom portion I5.

The ball 24 is of lesser diameter than the casing section 2I and it is held coaxially with respect to the casing I2 and for movement along the axis of the latter by a device generally indicated by the reference character 26 and preferably constructed out of sheet metal in the vfollowing preferred manner:

We first provide a sheet metal blank 21 shaped in outline as shown in Figure 8; it has a vertical dimension, as Viewed in Figure 8, somewhat less than the axial dimension of the casing portion or section 2I (Figure 1) and, disregarding the two side or end projections in Figure 8, its horizontal dimension is equal to the inside circumference of the cylindrical casing portion 2I. It is thus a simple sheet metal stamping; Y

Equidistantly spaced along its central khorizontal axis and with respect to the end portions 28 and 29 (Figure 8), the lbody of the sheet metal 21 Y is given a suitable number of piercings or cuttings 'VThereupon, the sheet metal member 21 is wrapped or curved into substantially an open ended cylinder, with the fin-like portions 28-29, 39, etc. `extending inwardly and with the end portions 28 and 29 brought into face to face contact; when thus conformed, the device V26 is now inserted into thecasing I2, the tapered section or portion 20 (Figure 1) Vaiding in entering the device 26 into the lower Acylindrical casing section 2I. The device 26 bottoms with its lower circular edge against or upon the metal washer 25 and the fit of the device 26 in the'casing portion 2| is sufficiently tight as, for example, somewhat tighter than a friction t, to hold itself frictionally against the inside wall of the casing andI against axial displacement. Thereby the metal washer 25 and hence also the washer 22, become securely held in place.-

The resultant mechanical interrelationship of the parts is shown in Figure 1 and also in Figure 7, and it might be noted that, if desired, a suitably springy sheet metal, such as phosphor bronze, may be employed in making u p the device 26 so that the springiness of the face-abutting fin members 29--29 tends to expand the band or cylinder 21 of the device 26 against the inside wall of the casing portion 2 I, and thus insure a secure frictional gripping.

In thus having wrapped the sheet metal member 21 of Figure 8 into the cylindrical form just described, the n or wing portions 28-29 (together forming in effect one) 30, 3l, etc., become alined substantially with respective radii of the casing, as is better shown in Figure 7, and their inner Vertically extending edges, being parallel to each other and to the axis of the casing, fall in a geometric circle or cylinder whose radius is substantially equal, excepting for a desirable slight play, tothe radius of the ball valve 24. The latter may now be inserted into the casing and in the guideway formed by the above-described inwardly directed` fins, the relationship being as shown in Figures 1 and 7. Y

The sheet metal of the device 26, particularly of the fins, is preferably relatively thin so as to present to the ball comparatively narrow edge faces.

Next there is inserted into the casing I2 an unbalanced structure or device generally indicated by the reference character 35 (Figure 1) and preferably and illustratively comprising a substantially hemispherical metallic member 36 provided with a stud-like extension 31 that extends through and is headed over against a disk-like part 38 Vfrom which extend, at an inclination outwardly and toward the part 36 a plurality of arms 39, illustratively six in number (see also Figure 6). The arms 39 terminate in relatively sharp edges 40 shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 6, and these edges fall in a circle that is of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the band-like casing portion I8. ball 24, as is later described.

Next there is inserted into the casing I2 an annular sheet metal part 4 I having a central aperture 42 about which extends an upstanding annular flange 43; its outer periphery terminates in an upstanding flange 44 which is cylindrical and of an outside diameter substantially matching the inside diameter of the casing portion I6. Prefer` ably, the part 4I with its outer flange 44 forms with the casing portion I6 a snug or friction fit and it is inserted to an extent permitted by the inside shoulder I9 at the junction of the casing portions I6 and I8. y t

superimposed upon the member 4I is a sheet metal member 45 shaped as is better shown in Figures 1 and 4. It has a disk-like bottom 46, the central portion of which, however, is pressed or shaped to extend upwardly as at 41 and peripherally it terminates in an upstanding cylindrical flange 48 which is snugly received into the casing portion I6, as with a friction t, for example, the device 45 coming to rest on top of the flange 44 of the part 4 I, as shown in Figure 1.

The disk-like bottom 46, however, is provided with a suitable Vnumber of apertures preferably distributed about its peripheral portions just in' side of the flange 48; in Figure 4 these apertures 49 are illustratively shownV as three in number, as is also their location and-shape. As better appears in Figure 1, the radial dimension of the Yapertures 49 is less than the radial dimension'of the annular member 4 I Y Next there is inserted into the upper end of the casing I2 a sheet metal part 50 which comprises an outer cylindrical wall 5I snugly receivable within the upper part'of the casing portion I6, as by a friction fit, the wall 5I terminating in an outwardly extending flange 52 which thus becomes superimposed upon the casing flange I1, The cylindrical wall 5I is of a vertical dimension s'uicient to bring its lower edge snugly against the cylindrical wall or flange 48 of the part 45.

From the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 5|, the sheet metal of the part 50 extends inwardly and upwardly, as at 53, terminating in a central open-ended cylindrical spout-forming part 54.

With the assembly of the stopper construction thus completed, the stopper may now be related to the bottle neck I after rst interposing between the double flange |'|-52 and the upper face of the shoulder a suitable gasket 55. Thereupon a suitable tool is brought into action, having parts that extend into the annular space between the portions and 54, to spin, force or expand a band-like portion of the double cylindrical wall 5| and I6 against the downwardly and outwardly inclined face of the shoulder I l, that action being accompanied by a drawing downwardly of the stopper construction with resultant compression of, and sealing by, the gasket 55.

The Ystopper construction is thus dependably secured in position in the bottle neck whereupon a suitable removable closure may be provided. Preferably, and illustratively, the upper annular edge faces of the spout 54 and of the bottle neck |0 fallin the same horizontal plane so that there may be seated and pressed against them a suitable gasket 56 of a sheet metal cap closure 5'| provided with a thread 58 to engage with the external bottle neck thread 59,v thus effecting a verydependable seal or closure. Or, if desired, the spout portion 54 of the part 5|l may have threads formed upon it, as indicated in Figure 3a, so as to receive a threaded sheet` metal cap 60 with an appropriate gasket 6| therein.

4In effecting pouring, the bottle, with the clo-r sure of course removed, is appropriately tilted, and the ball valve member 24 moves away from its gasket-line seat 22 under the force or pressure of the liquid. The ball moves along the axis of the stopper construction toward the upper end thereof, being guided by the fins 30, 3|, 32, etc., the spaces between the latter providing ample passageway for the flow of liquid to by-pass the ball 24. Likewise the substantial spaces between the arms 39 of the weight device 35 permit free flow of liquid past the device and thence through the central passageway or flanged hole 42 in the part 4|. Thence the liquid ows radially outwardly to seek an exit through one or more of the apertures 49 (see Figure 4) in the part 45 from which it is guided by the inclined walls of the portions 4l and 53 to the spout 54. At the same time air enters the bottle by way of a path like that just described but, of course, in reverse direction. The resultant flow is steady, uniform and rapid.

Attempts to refill the bottle are dependably negatived. With the bottle and stopper construction in upright position, the buoyancy of the ball 24 is negatived or overcome by the weight device 35 which keeps the ball seated against its seat, thus blocking ingress of liquid to the bottle. If the bottle is inverted in the attemp-t to rell it, the buoyancy of the ball 24 carries it into orince-closing position.

If the bottle is tilted into a position illustratively like that of Figure 3, the weight device 35 promptly and quickly tilts over in clockwise direction and seats the ball against its seat. In all of these instances the ns 30, 3|, 32, etc. form an accurate guideway to guide the ball 24 into proper orice-closing position and the fins, furthermore, present such small portions for contact with the ball that movement of the latter is unimpeded by friction and hence the ball is quickacting and likewise the action of the weight 35 made quick-acting.

As for the latter, the rather sharply defined edges 40 of its arms 39 insure quick sliding of the lower one or two arms (when the bottle is tilted) along the interior side walls of the Casing 20, the slant or taper of the portion thereof insuring still quicker response in translating the position of the weight member 35 to one like that shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, these small contacting portions as between the ball and the ns 30, 3|, etc. and between the arms 39 of the weight member and the side wall portions 8 and 20 of the casing or even the under face of the member 4|, aside from reducing friction and resistance to movement, effectively negative attempts` to cause the contacting parts to be made to adhere as by way of the introduction of some foreign material or substance intended for that purpose.

Attempts to refill the bottle by creating a difference in pressure between the external liquid and the interior atmosphere in the bottle are accompanied by such actions as those above described, depending upon the position or tilt of the bottle, but also by a unique coaction between the ball 24 and the washer 22. The inherent yieldability of the latter causes the circle or line of contact between it and the ball 24, as shown in Figure l, to become a narrow band-like surface and if the pressure is increased that bandlike surface of contact is still further increased or widened in that the inner annular portion of the washer 22 may now yield (see Figure 3) to an extent limited by the frusto-conical bottom portion I5, thus increasing still further the sealing action between the ball and its gasket or valve seat. Relieving the pressure difference permits the washer 22 to return to its normal or unflexed condition. In the latter or normal condition also freedom of breathing or interchange of vapor between the two sides of the orifice 23 is assured and hence danger of locking the ball 24 to its seat under normal usage is eliminated.

Also, access mechanically as by way of an implement, or the like, to the Weight without mutilating the construction is also dependably negatived in that the available path from the open end of the spout 54 through an aperture 49 and thence through the aperture 42 is too circuitous, flange 43 of the member 4| acting as an additional baille for this purpose.

Thus, it will be seen that the construction provided in this invention is thoroughly dependable, of efficient action, and is compact and durable. The individual parts of the construction are capable of inexpensive manufacture, particularly where made of metal though, of course, materials other than metal may be employed, and are, furthermore, of simple, speedy and inexpensive assembly. It will also be seen that in the construction disclosed the various objects above noted, to gether with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

Inasmuch as this application and our copending application Serial No. 117,396, filed of even date herewith, contain certain common subject matter which is claimed in the said co-pending application, we make no claim thereto herein.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and valve means coacting therewith, said valve means being movable in the general direction of the axis of said casing and hence toward or away from said valve opening, and a sheet metal member substantially cylindrical in the lower end of said casing, said sheet metal member having a plurality of fins cut and bent inwardly in a general direction toward the axis of said casing to form a guideway for said valve means.

2. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and valve means coacting therewith, said valve means being movable in the general direction of the axis of said casing and hence toward or away from said valve opening, saidV casing being substantially cylindrical at its lower portion, and a sheet metal member having a plurality of fins cut and bent'out of the plane thereof, including two iins at its respective ends, bent into substantially cylindrical form with said ns extending inwardly', and received within and substantially conforming to the surface of said cylindrical casing portion to form a guideway for said valve means, said VVtwo end ns abutting face to face.

3. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said end fins are springy and exert an expanding force upon said sheet metal member to hold the latter against the wall of the cylindrical casing portion.

4. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a lower substantially cylindrical section having a valve opening in its bottom and merging at its upper end into a substantially frusto-conical section, valve means coacting with said valve opening, means inserted and supported in said cylindrical section and having a plurality of inwardly extending parts forming a guideway for guiding said valve means in the direction of the axis of said casing and to-I ward or away from the space within said frustoconical section, passage-forming baille means secured to and closing off the upper end of said casing, and a gravity-actuated device interposed between said valve means and said baiiie means and having portions for engagement with the inside Wall of said frusta-conical section to eiect certain sliding and tilting movement thereof when said stopper construction is tilted, said portions of said gravity-actuated device comprising a plurality of outwardly extending arms the ends of which are relatively sharply defined for contact with the inside casing wall. y

5. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a lower substantially cylindrical section having a valvel opening in its bottom and merging at its upper end into a substantially frusto-conical section, valve means coacting with said valve opening, means inserted and supported in said cylindrical section and having a plurality of inwardly extending parts forming a guideway for guiding said valve means in the direction of the axis of said casing and toward or away from the space within said frustoconical section, passage-forming baffle means secured to and closing off the upper end of said casing, and a gravity-actuated device interposed between said valve means and said baille means and having portions for engagement with the inside wall of said truste-conical section to eiect certain sliding and tilting movement thereof when said stopper construction is tilted, said portions of said gravity-actuated device comprising a plurality of outwardly extending arms the ends of which are relatively sharply defined for contact with the inside casing wall and said baille means including a part extending generally transversely of said casing and having an outer substantially annular unbroken area exposed to beengaged by one or more of said arms according to the tilt or position of said gravity-actuated device.

JAMES H. BALDWIN. KNUD KNU'DSEN. 

